Rep. Ron Kind Calls on Wisconsin Gov. Walker and Attorney General Schimel to Withdraw from Texas v. Azar and Stop Putting Wisconsinites Lives at RiskLawsuit, co-led by Wisconsin and Texas, would dismantle the Affordable Care Act

La Crosse - Today, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind called on Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel to immediately withdraw from the Texas v. Azar lawsuit. The lawsuit, which is led by Attorney General Schimel and funded in part by Wisconsin taxpayer money, seeks to strike down the Affordable Care Act (ACA), putting 2.4 million Wisconsinites with pre-existing conditions and over 220,000 ACA beneficiaries at risk of losing their health care.

“It is unconscionable to think that the Governor and Attorney General would willingly put the lives of over half of our state at risk, all while forcing Wisconsinites to foot the bill for this appalling lawsuit,” said Rep. Ron Kind. “Texas v. Azar will put the quality health care coverage Wisconsinites rely on in jeopardy, and inject chaos into the lives of families across the state. Instead of taking away health care for people with pre-existing conditions, we need to work together to improve the quality, affordability and accessibility of health care in Wisconsin.”

Over half of all Wisconsinites live with a pre-existing condition, totaling over 2.4 million people that could be denied coverage if insurance companies are allowed to discriminate based on pre-existing conditions. Over 220,000 Wisconsinites purchased their health care on the ACA health insurance exchange this year. Wisconsin health care providers and insurers have expressed significant concern with the Texas v. Azar lawsuit and the harm it could cause health care insurance markets and individuals throughout the state.